College Coaching Hires Who Will Light Up the Scoreboard

There were 21 head-coaching changes in Division I college football this past offseason, not to mention some big name offensive coordinators that landed in different zip codes.

Which new faces will have a profound effect on the offensive fortunes of their new schools?

High Impact Hires

These coaches have the best chance to make an offensive splash at their new destination - just don’t expect overnight success.

AUBURN - Gus Malzahn (offensive coordinator) The most important fantasy hire for Auburn was not their head coach, but instead offensive guru Malzahn. He brought excitement to Arkansas and Tulsa over the past few seasons. Can he do the same in the rugged SEC?

WYOMING - Dave Christensen (head coach) Christensen was one of the architects of Missouri’s wide open attack. He should inject some much-needed electricity into the Cowboy’s offense. Keep an eye on Wyoming in the coming years.

MISSISSIPPI STATE - Dan Mullen (head coach) The former Florida offensive coordinator has promised to jump-start the MSU offense. By bringing in a four-star QB and eight—yes, eight—wide receivers in his first recruiting haul, it appears Mullen means business.

MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE - Tony Franklin (offensive coordinator) Franklin is no stranger to the Sun Belt. He once guided Troy’s offense to success. After a failed stint at Auburn, he is back in his comfort zone in the Sun Belt. QB Dwight Dasher could be the biggest benefactor of Franklin’s arrival.

SAN DIEGO STATE - Brady Hoke (head coach) In this age of college football parity, San Diego State is one of those schools that you’d expect to step up and have a nice year every now and then. It hasn’t happened. Enter Brady Hoke.

It took him a few years to build Ball State into a MAC power. But with the resources available to him in Southern California (as compared to Muncie, IN), this rebuilding project could take less time.

AKRON - Walt Harris (QB coach/passing game coordinator) Harris failed at Stanford in the head coaching role, but he is a good offensive mind who’s coached multiple Biletnikoff winners. This is good news for the Zips passing game.

Biggest Offensive Losses

TULSA - Gus Malzahn (co-offensive coordinator) As stated above, Malzahn is taking his Wildcat formation to the SEC. The Golden Hurricane still have the pieces in place to remain a offensive machine, but losing Malzahn cannot be overlooked.

RICE - Tom Herman (offensive coordinator) Herman helped build the Owls offense into a force over the past few years. He is moving on to Iowa State in the same capacity.

FLORIDA - Scot Loeffler (QB coach) Loeffler was a former assistant at Michigan who helped groom Chad Henne,Tom Brady, and Brian Griese. It will be interesting to see if he can make Tim Tebow an even better passer in 2009.

USC - Jeremy Bates (QB coach/playcaller) Bates is a former Denver Bronco assistant who will be calling the plays in Troy this fall. His first to-do item will be to help choose the next Trojan starting QB.

IOWA STATE - Tom Herman (offensive coordinator) As mentioned above, Herman helped Rice light up the scoreboard the past few years. What new wrinkles will he bring to QB Austen Arnaud and the Cyclones offense?

TENNESSEE - Lane Kiffin (head coach) The ultimate wildcard. Kiffin has spent his first off-season gathering talent and ticking off every other school in the SEC. Should be a fun ride...while it lasts.

WASHINGTON - Steve Sarkisian (head coach) The former USC OC inherits one of the best talents in the nation in QB Jake Locker. Can he turn around the Huskies’ offense before Locker heads to the NFL?

SYRACUSE - Doug Marrone (head coach) Marrone ran the high-flying New Orleans Saints offense the past few years. There’s nowhere to go but up for the Orange. Can he bring them back to respectability?

The Others

ARMY - Rich Ellerson (former Cal Poly head coach)

BALL STATE - Stan Parrish (former Ball State offensive coordinator)

BOWLING GREEN - Dave Clawson (former Tennessee offensive coordinator)

CLEMSON - Dabo Swinney (former Clemson’s wide receiver coach)

KANSAS STATE - Bill Snyder (former Kansas State head coach)

MIAMI OH - Mike Haywood (former Notre Dame offensive coordinator)

NEW MEXICO - Mike Locksley (former Illinois offensive coordinator)

PURDUE - Danny Hope (former Purdue offensive line coach)

Todd DeVries is the founder of CollegeFootballGeek.com, your premier resource for college fantasy football information. Check us out.